Research: Oak Ridges Moraine Research Coalition

Introduction:

Interest in Oak Ridges Moraine Ridges
research has steadily increased since the late-1980’s and especially since the
enactment of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act and Plan in 2001 and 2002.
Academic research in numerous disciplines as well as interdisciplinary research
has been undertaken at several universities and colleges across southern
Ontario. Governments on various levels, conservation authorities and
non-government organizations (NGO’s) have also led and contributed to research
on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The 2007 Oak Ridges Moraine Symposium called for
more coordination and collaboration on a number of fronts on the moraine,
including research. These initiatives and efforts have led to interest in a
network or coalition to coordinate ongoing research across the moraine.

Goal and
Objectives:

To promote coordination and
collaboration between researchers whose work focuses on the Oak Ridges Moraine
while fostering linkages between researchers and practitioners. The coalition
will endeavour to achieve this goal by meeting the following objectives:

Undertake an inventory of existing social and natural science and policy
research on the moraine and identify key gaps in knowledge, information and
data;

Foster collaborative research projects, funding proposals and outreach and
dissemination initiatives intended to raise the profile of, and ensure the
sustainability of, the linked social and ecological systems of the moraine;
and,

Promote community service learning by fostering strong relationships between
researchers and practitioners with over-lapping interests in the sustainability
and ecological and hydrological integrity of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Members and
Proposed Structure of the Coalition:

The coalition is intended to bring
together researchers, reflective practitioners and citizen scientists from
universities, colleges, government agencies at various levels, conservation
authorities and non-government organizations to share their moraine-based
knowledge, information, data and experience. The coalition, at least initially,
will be structured as a loose network of researchers (or network of research
networks) with representation, in the form of a liaison, from each
institution/agency/organization. The liaison will be the main contact/conduit
between the coalition and the member institution/agency/organization and it will
be the responsibility of the liaison to update other coalition members, students
and relevant research contacts (i.e. Associate Dean of Research) regarding
coalition activities/initiatives. Coalition members could also act as nodes or
links to other relevant networks of researchers or practitioners to ensure
cross-fertilization and to reduce the duplication of efforts. Regular, rotating
meetings will be held to provide updates on on-going and proposed research,
possible collaborative research projects and special topics (for instance,
community service learning, research methods/approaches etc.).

Potential Research
Foci / Framework of the Proposed Coalition:

The coalition could utilize the
up-coming 2015 consolidated Oak Ridges Moraine Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan and
Greenbelt Plan review as well as the proposed Oak Ridges Moraine UNESCO
Biosphere Region to provide foci for the above objectives. The 2015
consolidated plan review represents an opportunity for researchers to provide
NGO’s, government agencies, citizens and private sector organizations with
coordinated, relevant research outputs that could be used to improve these
important pieces of legislation. The proposed UNESCO Biosphere Region affords a
framework within which researchers play a key role in providing logistical
support to ensuring on-going environmental conservation efforts as well as local
economic development opportunities that support sustainable livelihoods across
the moraine.

For Whom the
Coalition Would be of Interest:

The coalition is meant to provide
existing, emerging and future researchers with interests on the Oak Ridges
Moraine with a forum to share and disseminate existing and proposed research.
It is meant to provide students with a single-window to the wide breadth of
potential research projects available on the moraine as a “living laboratory”.
And the coalition is intended to provide consumers of research such as
government agencies, NGO’s, citizen’s and private sector organizations that have
research needs on or around the moraine with a pool of interested and willing
researchers with relevant knowledge, expertise and skills.

MRC Mapping and Planning Service (MAPS):

The Moraine Research Coalition (MRC) Mapping and Planning Service (MAPS) is geo-web application is meant to provide a focal point for Oak Ridges Moraine- and Greenbelt-based research and community service learning.